"Quink? Who? Och, aye, Quink! Not so much a friend, more a professional acquaintance. Him and his idea of fire-spewing towers, all sounds most unlikely. And those as Thassilonian towers, by the way laddie, not Azlanti, although of course they were contemporaries."
His eyes narrow suspiciously. "So what information is it that ye're looking for? Ye're all clearly adventuresome types by the look of ye, less interested in history and more in plunder. How do ye think I can be helping ye?"
"Yes, that one!" Camlo jumps on the correct name... getting a little muddles and hoping someone with more knowledge will jump in and help.... "Well, you see, we are looking for a place to find an important artifact, that Quink thinks may be sunk below the sea. He thought you may be able to provide directions...."
Asher wipes his hands on a rag, eyeing the group. ”Directions to where, specifically, Mister...?”
"Zenovia... Camlo Zenovia. Errm, I'm not entirely sure. I wasn't entirely listening and much of the story is not something to discuss..." he glances at Asher then quickly away, "in public. My friends know much more about these things than I do."
"Indeed, perhaps we can head back inside as long as nothing else is going to explode..." Tikrok takes a couple short steps in that direction to try to prompt them to get off the streets.
Asher chuckles. "No promises there. Explosions are a...a bit of a trademark for Grundar." He turns, walking back into the murky room. "Names Asher."
Sefayll maintains her watch until it's clear that the others are going into the dwarf's... workshop(?) and follows them inside.
"Asher! No, no no!" Grundar takes Asher by the arm and drags him a short distance away to remonstrate, although his voice carries. "What am I always telling ye? Don't be telling a bunch of strangers our business. We've no reason to trust these people, they've just wandered in off the street. Let's find out what they want before we show them our secrets, eh?"
Grundar steps over to the large warehouse door and closes it. "There's an inn round the corner. We can talk there."
I note that Asher has a high skill in Knowledge (Engineering) - that's ideal to get him into Grundar's project. I'll add more thoughts regarding Asher's backstory in the Discussion thread.
Elisile nods. "Let us go." Smiling slightly she adds, "I am quite interested in history ... for an adventurer ... as it happens."
Asher sighs at Grundar, shaking his head. ”Alright.”
As they walk to the inn, he turns, gesturing at the others. ”So, Cam, I got. Who’re the rest of you?”
The tavern is a pretty basic affair. A few locals, their skins leathery from being battered by the elements, tend their drinks solicitously and look suspiciously at the newcomers. There is sawdust and a few bloodstains on the floor. But it is still early and the place is fairly empty. The alewife asks what they want and delivers it efficiently to the corner table that Grundar has chosen.
"Aye, like Asher says - who are ye?" he growls.
“I am Elisile Starbrow,” says the elf, sipping at her wine. “These are my companions, some of long acquaintance, some more recently met. Lately we have had much cause to believe that an evil from ancient Thassilon lingers – or has been reborn – and poses considerable threat to this region and beyond. We are working to combat this threat, and believe that we might find something to help us in this endeavour at a place once known as the Mountains of Bone, located in the far west of the fallen empire – and thus now sunken beneath the sea. Your acquaintance, Quink, told us of your knowledge and expertise in regards to those submerged parts of Thassilon and suggested we seek your help.”
"My name is Tikrok." the Shoanti states matter-of-factly. "As Elisile says, your knowledge would be most helpful."
"Och, aye, an ancient evil is risen again, eh?" Grundar looks sceptical but nonetheless it is obvious his interest is piqued. "The Mountains of Bone are just some seamounts now. They were a bit of an out-of-the-way location back in the day.
"I mean, it's true that I have an interest in these areas. But what's the nature of this 'ancient evil'? If it's away under the sea hundreds of miles away I don't see what it's got to do with me."
"We think it's a runelord....whatever one of them is. But it's not that that's under the sea.... Just the things that may help defeat it..."
Grundar splutters out a mouthful of ale. "What? An actual living runelord. Well, that's just... not entirely out of the question," he continues thoughtfully, tugging on his beard. "There were writings describing how the Runelords predicted the coming of Earthfall and took steps to dodge it. Even so... let me have a look at that wee letter."
He takes the letter from Quink and scans the contents, his eyebrows getting higher as he reads. He then hands the letter to Asher.
He fixes Camlo with a look. "Well, Quink seems to believe ye. Seems ye've been to Jorgenfist and battled with giants, and grappled with ancient spirits in the depths under Sandpoint. And now ye're looking for the fabled Runeforge. So how did ye come by this information? And which Runelord - or Runelords, gods forbid - are we talking about?"
“Karzoug,” answers Elisile grimly. “Whether it is truly a surviving Runelord, some sort of vestige spirit, or a powerful imposter we don’t truly know – but there is certainly a powerful entity that calls itself Karzoug, with ties to Thassilon causing much trouble in this area – not just in Sandpoint and the hinterlands, but here in Magnimar as well. Do you recall the Skinsaw Murders several months ago? We believe Karzoug was ultimately behind that, part of a ritual to harvest souls. We've pieced things together over time, though much of our recent knowledge comes from a Thassilonian ghost from the ruin under Sandpoint."
Asher reads the letter, his face growing darker as he does.
He crumples the letter in his fist. Scowling, he looks at everyone present. "The Skinsaw...that business with the judges who disappeared? Stealing souls to feed Rovagug, or the world wound, or whatever the wash-woman fears this morning?"
Camlo looks confused.... "Sir, Elisile Starbrow is anything but a washerwoman!"
”What? No...no. Not...” Asher gestures at Elisile “...not her.
He sighs, and chuckles in exasperation. ”I’ve been chasing stories of strange happenings up and down the Varisian Coast for the last couple years. Tales of corruption, and monsters. Stories your Nan would tell you before you cold walk.”
Elisile gives Camlo a look. “Yes, the judges who … disappeared. They thought no doubt they were sacrificing souls to the Reaper of Reputation rather than the Rough Beast, but in fact we believe the souls went to Karzoug, courtesy of the Sihedron rune the victims were marked with prior to or as part of their murders.”
Asher hesitates only a moment, then draws up the sleeve on his left arm. There, on the underside of his bicep, is a tattoo of the Sihedron rune.
Meeting her gaze with intensity, he speaks, his voice low, somber. ”You mean this?”
Elisile looks the man in the eye. "Try not to die," she advises. "How did you come by that?"
Asher guffaws. "Try not to - yeah, I'll try not to die." He pulls the sleeve back down over the tattoo and takes a long pull from his drink.
"A few...friends and I got them. All of us. We were young, and stupid, and...and I don't know what happened to them." He looks somber for a moment, then adds, almost as an afterthought, "But everything went belly up after that."
"Sounds like you've had your share of troubles yourself, not all of which were out of your control..."
At the demand for names, Sefayll extends a mailed glove. ”Sefayll Valerian, Order of the... formerly of the Order of the Nail.”
She sees little need to add to the tale being told as the facts are being represented well, in her estimation.
Asher's cheeks darken just slightly. "Not all. No."
Grundar listens to the conversation, brow furrowed. "So this involves young Asher, here? This brings things closer to home. The Silverhelms and the Merivingions go back. Sounds like this has become a family matter.
"It seems ye've been on some proper adventures, and discovered some rare truths. I can't deny I'm not interested in the Thassilonian aspects here. But if this involves helping Asher right the wrongs which were done to him and his family, then I'm honour bound to help ye, as any dwarf would be to those he considers his kin."
He taps the table thoughtfully, as if making up his mind. "Alright. I think I may be able to help. But I'm going to need ye to help me too." He leans in and lowers his voice conspiratorially. "Asher and me, we've been working on building a ship. Not just any ship, mind ye. But a ship that can go under the sea. If ye need to get to the Mountains of Bone, then me and Asher can get ye there."
He continues, his words spilling out breathlessly. "There's ruins out there that no air-breather has seen for millennia. And I aim to be the first that does. But it's very complicated, and the parts we need are very specialised. Not just any old crap will do." He pulls a face and glances at Asher. "Not like we got from that fooking liar Bhreacher.
"See, we need a piece of gear - an incantic oscillator. It's a key component for certain types of golem and such like, and we're using it for... Well, anyway, I won't bore ye with the details. The Golemworks here in Magnimar sold us one but it's just not up to the job - ye saw the results of that as ye arrived. If we can't get that to work, the ship simply won't move.
"But there's a family in Kaer Maga, the Ardocs. They are quite renowned for the quality of their workmanship in the design and manufacture of constructs - nothing like the hackwork that passes for a golem here. If ye can get us an oscillator from there, we'll be in business, no worries."
He frowns. "Now, don't ye breathe a word of this to anyone. I'm sure the workshop's being watched. I reckon there's rivals looking to steal my secrets. So ye keep 'em buttoned. Alright?"
"How big is this thing, if they don't fancy selling us one, would we be able to, you know, pocket one?" Camlo whispers, realising this could be fun.
Grundar eyes Camlo carefully. "Aye, laddie, ye could fit one in ye backpack if ye had to."
Camlo grins and looks expectantly at the others for some confirmation that they will take on the quest.
The armored woman tilts her head toward the halfling. Removing her helm, Camillo can see her frown of displeasure, but she says nothing to him. Leaning toward the dwarf, she whispers in turn, "It will be obtained legally. What would one of these oscillators cost?"
"Why do any of you care about some...kraken, or kyton, or whatever you said it, or he, was called. I mean..." Asher gestures at the party, and almost laughs, "...come on, you guys! This halfling comes up to my thigh! The stuffy former Order of the spoon knight, this todger -" he jerks his thumb at Tikrok, "- and, I'm sorry, but what is with your eyes?" He matches Elisile's gaze out of her black and blue eyes. "Did you catch something?" His words aren't meant to be cutting, but a frustration that has obviously been there since long before you arrived brims barely contained. "What're you guys supposed to be? The Blackrock Company? The Queen's Hands? The second Sons?" His voice carries across the room, louder than perhaps intended.
Asher scoots his seat back, and rises quickly, striding away, muttering under his breath.
"Ye'll have to forgive young Asher," says Grundar, "He has family issues. He'll cool down anon.
"Um, anyway, regarding the oscillator," he continues, flinching slightly at the signifier's intensity, "What's legal and not legal is somewhat moot in Kaer Maga, from what I hear. It's a bit of a seller's market, really - they cost what the maker wants ye to pay. The one that went up in smoke cost the last of my gold, I'm afraid."
Camlo looks shocked, and a little hurt by Asher's comments, but he makes no move to follow him.
"It would be nice to have an idea of the cost though. A sort of ahh, guide-price?"
Nodding, "And some means of determining the quality of the device. I am loathe to travel to the City of Strangers just to be sold a worthless bauble."
"I believe I have upset your apprentice. That was not my intention, merely stating what I saw as fact. Though his work with you indicates he is making better choices now. Anyway, can he identify the part in question and make sure it is up to the standards you need?" Tikrok looks sheepish having stuck his foot in his mouth earlier.
Elisile frowns and absently strokes one of her ears.
"I have oft heard of the City of Strangers," she says absently. "I had thought to travel there one day ..."
"Asher knows the score in that regard. Well, look, they aren't cheap, I can tell ye that. Nothing in golem mechanics is. I doubt ye will get much change from a few hundred platinum sovereigns. I, ah, am somewhat embarrassed for funds right now, though."
Nods, "Very well. If he," she gestures at Asher, "can identify the piece you need, we will figure out how to obtain it and bring it back." She gives the halfing a sidelong glance and a small shake of her head as her eyes narrow slightly.
Asher walks back to the table. He clears his throat, a tad embarrassed. ”I can identify it, yeah.”
"Now that that is settled, how will we get to our destination? Isn't Kaer Maga many hundreds of miles away? I know a spell that can move most of us based on the plant life in the area but 'most of us' doesn't really cut it I think"
"I've no idea. Take some horses? I think it's near Korvosa, or something." Asher stands a bit awkwardly behind his chair, looking indecisive.
Sefayll looks at Elisle, "Given time to study the destination, dare we attempt magic?"
Arthur of the Road
